Written Answers Wednesday 7 June 2006

Scottish Executive

Advertising

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it can take should it have concerns over the impact of the content of advertisements and whether it has made any representations about the content of advertisements as a result of any such concerns and, if so, to whom.

Mr Tom McCabe: Advertising is a reserved matter, dealt with by the Advertising Standards Authority. The Advertising Standards Authority enforces the existing Advertising Standards Codes.

  Please see the Advertising Standards Authority details as follows:

  
Advertising Standards Authority
  Mid City Place
  71 High Holborn
  London
  WC1V 6QT
  Telephone: 020 7492 2222
  Fax: 020 7242 3696
  Textphone: 020 7242 8159
  Website: http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/.


  Information relating to the Scottish Executive representation about the content of advertising as a result of any concerns is not held centrally.

Central Heating Programme

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that whoever wins the contract for providing the free central heating programme will not subcontract the installation of the systems to contractors who are not capable of fulfilling the contract to an acceptable standard.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
The contract documentation, issued as part of the tendering process, emphasises a range of quality criteria such as enhanced delivery, improved service and better quality workmanship. The successful tenderer must deliver the programme in such a way that these standards are achieved. In addition, a performance-related fee element has been introduced to the contract to incentivise the managing agent to deliver a high standard of service.
Failure to comply with the contract specification may result in the removal of subcontractors or termination of the contract.

Central Heating Programme

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget for repairs to central heating systems will be under the free central heating programme in each of the next three years.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
£86 million has been set aside to fund the central heating programme this year and next. At this stage it is not possible to estimate the funding that will be required for repairs as this will depend on individual decisions about the condition of existing central heating systems.

Concessionary Travel

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to provide financial support to the providers of long-distance bus services to support the entitlement of pensioners in rural areas to free off-peak nationwide bus travel.

Tavish Scott: All local registered bus services and long-distance scheduled coach services in Scotland are part of the Scotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled people. All bus operators will be paid at the rate of 73.6% of the average adult single fare to ensure that they are no better and no worse off through taking part than they would be if there was no scheme.

Digital Technology

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households had a domestic connection to the internet on the last date for which information is available, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) socio-economic group.

George Lyon: The 2003-2004 Scottish Household Survey  (SHS) report contains the most recent information on access to the internet. However, the survey does not provide data broken down by parliamentary constituency or by social class.

  Instead, helpful information is available in the 2003-04 SHS report which provides data on adult (home or other) access to the internet, broken down by local authority. This breakdown by local authority is available every two years, covering two year periods. The data for 2005-06 will be published in 2007. For reasons of representativeness, data for single years (e.g. 2003, 2005) can only be presented by the five largest local authorities and a further nine local authority groupings. Single year data for 2005 will be published in August.

  An indication of household access is available at national level each quarter, broken down by household type, urban/rural classification and net annual household income (which is used as an indicator for the SHS instead of other socio-economic groupings).

  This and other data on internet access and use from the 2003-2004 Scottish Household Survey Report can be found at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/03155211/52413#620.

  Alternatively, a copy of the report can be obtained from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 37213).

Fresh Talent Initiative

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have successfully applied to the Fresh Talent initiative from abroad in each of the last two years, broken down by country of application.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme was introduced on 22 June 2005. Since then, out of a total of over 1,860 successful applicants, over 253 people have applied from overseas. The breakdown of applications by country is provided in the following table.

  Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme: Successful Overseas Applicants by Country, 22 June 2005 to 30 April 2006

  

 Algeria
 1
 Malaysia
 6


 Armenia
 1
 Mauritius
 1


 Australia
 1
 Mexico
 1


 Bahrain
 1
 Nigeria
 9


 Bangladesh
 1
 Pakistan
 5


 Barbados
 1
 Russia
 2


 Bulgaria
 1
 Singapore
 1


 Cameroon
 1
 Sri Lanka
 1


 Canada
 11
 Sudan
 1


 China
 58
 Swaziland
 1


 Ecuador
 1
 Syria
 1


 Egypt
 2
 Taiwan
 7


 Hong Kong
 1
 Trinidad and Tobago
 2


 India
 74
 Uganda
 1


 Indonesia
 1
 United States
 41


 Israel
 1
 Venezuela
 2


 Japan
 8
 Yugoslavia
 1


 Jordan
 2
 Zambia
 1


 Lebanon
 1
 
 


 Libya 
 1

Fresh Talent Initiative

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how long on average it takes to process applications under the Fresh Talent initiative from (a) Scotland and (b) abroad.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive does not consider applications for the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme, although it can provide advice on the requirements. All applications are made to, and considered by, either UKVisas (for those applying from abroad) or the Home Office’s Immigration and Nationality Directorate (for those applying within Scotland). Processing times are a matter for them.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it anticipates that the Home Office consultation on a points-based immigration system, which will award points for having attended a UK university, will affect the Fresh Talent initiative.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has been working closely with the Home Office to ensure that Scotland’s needs are reflected in the new points-based managed migration system. The arrangements for the system, which were announced by the then Home Secretary on 7 March 2006, include a reduced qualifying period for some tier 1 (highly-skilled migrants) and for tier 2 migrants (skilled people with a job offer) who wish to settle in Scotland, meaning that people who show a commitment to Scotland will be able to settle permanently much quicker than migrants elsewhere in the UK, and a Scottish shortage occupation list which will allow us to bring in people with skills that are in short supply in Scotland. The existing Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme will continue under the points based system (following an evaluation of how it is working in practice). Overall, the new arrangements are positive and should be hugely beneficial in attracting the best talent to Scotland and keeping it here.

Health

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the performance of NHS Scotland in the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence technology appraisal guidance, Acute coronary syndromes - clopidogrel (No. 80).

Mr Andy Kerr: No specific assessment has been made.

  Coronary heart disease is a clinical priority for NHSScotland. NHS boards are expected to implement the recommendations of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence technology appraisals when they have been endorsed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. Where a recommended treatment is not being made available, this will be pursued pro-actively with the NHS boards concerned.

Health

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has put in place to improve implementation by NHS Scotland of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence technology appraisal guidance, Acute coronary syndromes - clopidogrel (No. 80).

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive has formal performance management mechanisms to assure the quality and efficiency of services provided by NHS boards. Where specific issues arise concerning the implementation of guidance, the Executive will follow up on a pro-active basis with the appropriate NHS boards.

Historic Buildings

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SPEA) has granted a relaxation of the discharge consent awarded to Historic Scotland for Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness and, if so, for what reason.

Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for SEPA. I have asked the Chief Executive to reply to you directly

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of the Scottish Tenants Organisation.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
The Scottish Tenants Organisation (STO) has indicated to the Scottish Executive and Communities Scotland that it is not currently operating as a constituted body and that an STO steering committee is in operation. We understand this committee is working towards becoming constituted.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the Tenant Participation Advisory Group; who its members are, and what its current role is.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
The remit and current role of the Tenant Participation Advisory Group is to oversee the work of the Tenant Participation Development Team in Communities Scotland and to allow stakeholders to engage with this work by giving advice on; work planning, engaging with tenants and landlords, development activities, strategic priorities, feedback on activities and material produced and equalities in practice.
Current membership comprises representatives from the Chartered Institute of Housing, Communities Scotland, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Scottish Tenants Organisation Steering Committee, Tenants Information Service, TIGHRA (Tenant Involvement in Grampian, Highland and Rural Areas) and the Tenant Participation Advisory Service.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what working groups on tenant participation are supported by the Executive or its agencies.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
The Tenant Participation Development Advisory Group is the only working group on tenant participation supported by the Executive or its agencies. This group provides advice and support to Communities Scotland’s Tenant Participation Development Team.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its current strategy is for tenant participation; who is responsible for the implementation of the tenant participation strategy, and what their remit is.

Johann Lamont: The Executive’s commitment to tenant participation is set out in the national strategy for tenant participation Partners in Participation  published in 1999 (Bib. number 2471). This commitment is underpinned in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 which introduced a legal framework for tenant participation. local authorities and registered social landlords are required to publish a tenant participation strategy and are responsible for implementing the strategy, in consultation with their tenants and Registered Tenant Organisations.

  Development support for tenant participation is provided by Communities Scotland’s Tenant Participation Development Team and how well tenant participation is working within individual local authorities and registered social landlords is assessed as part of Communities Scotland’s inspection programme.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress local authorities are making towards meeting their obligations for tenant participation under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  As part of the Communities Scotland inspection regime, all local authorities have to demonstrate how well their tenant participation strategy is working and the views of tenants and tenants groups are considered.

  Whilst much has been achieved and good progress has been made by some local authorities recent research and the public reporting of landlords inspections has highlighted that more work needs to be done to improve the level and quality of tenant participation across the country. The Minister for Communities announced in March 2006 that Communities Scotland will be commissioning further research into landlords’ progress on tenant participation later in the year to help to tailor development support, help to drive up standards in tenant participation and encourage improvements in landlords’ performance.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which tenants’ organisations are directly funded by the Executive or its agencies.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  No tenants’ organisations are directly funded by the Executive or its agencies. A grant scheme is available for registered tenant organisations to fund projects which improve tenant participation in their own areas. Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 local authorities and registered social landlords are legally required to carry out an assessment of the resources required to implement tenant participation, including the funding of tenant organisations. Resources should be negotiated and agreed with tenants and reviewed regularly.

International Development

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what official co-ordination there is of the programmes and projects proposed by voluntary, church and other groups from Scotland to provide help to communities in Malawi.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive undertakes a co-ordinating role for all programmes and projects seeking support from the International Development Fund. All bids are assessed to ensure they are coherent with current in-country policies, do not duplicate existing efforts and meet priority needs of Malawians.

  Through the International Development Fund we have also provided support to the Scotland-Malawi Partnership, whose members represent organisations working with and in Malawi. With this support they will be developing and maintaining an interactive web-based directory to facilitate collaboration and the exchange of experience and best practice amongst members.

  In addition, I chair a Steering Group of those people and organisations with an interest in Malawi which provides an opportunity for stakeholders to feed, ideas and best practice in to Scottish Executive policy.

Internet Domain Names

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider making the recently purchased second-level domains "scotland.eu" or "alba.eu" available to the Scottish public in the form of a number of third-level domains (e.g. www.thirdleveldomains.scotland.eu or www.thirdleveldomains.alba.eu) or whether it intends to use "scotland.eu" for a single site redirect as has been outlined for the domains registered by it during Phase II of the European Registry of Internet Domain Names (EUrid) domain application process.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive intends to use the scotland.eu Second Level Domain (SLD) as a single site redirect to www.scotlandistheplace.com , which is the main online vehicle for the international promotion of Scotland and Scottish identity.

  The SLD alba.eu is also used as a single-site redirect.

Justice

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of child trafficking it was made aware of in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally.

Justice

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional checks Scottish police forces are undertaking to prevent child trafficking through and from Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: The UK multi-agency taskforce known as "Reflex" which seeks to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups involved in trafficking, is raising awareness and developing enhanced intelligence and operational capacity within the Scottish Police Service to tackle this issue.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26148 by Cathy Jamieson on 1 June 2006, how many criminal justice social workers there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: The following table details the number of qualified criminal justice social workers in each local authority for the requested period.

  

 Local Authority
1999
Number
2000
Number
2001
Number
2002
Number
2003
Number
2004
Number
2005
Number


 Aberdeen City
 33
 35
 33
 35
 38
 38
 40


 Aberdeenshire
 21
 28
 32
 35
 32
 38
 31


 Angus
 13
 13
 15
 13
 15
 15
 17


 Argyll and Bute
 6
 6
 7
 5
 5
 8
 8


 Clackmannanshire
 11
 11
 12
 11
 11
 14
 14


 Dumfries and Galloway
 16
 13
 15
 18
 15
 18
 22


 Dundee City
 21
 25
 30
 32
 39
 39
 42


 East Ayrshire
 15
 12
 15
 17
 19
 18
 24


 East Dunbartonshire
 5
 3
 4
 5
 4
 4
 5


 East Lothian
 0
 9
 4
 8
 6
 7
 8


 East Renfrewshire
 7
 4
 4
 4
 7
 10
 14


 Edinburgh
 74
 70
 65
 69
 62
 69
 90


 Eilean Siar
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1


 Falkirk
 17
 15
 14
 17
 15
 15
 20


 Fife
 48
 48
 55
 54
 58
 58
 57


 Glasgow
 109
 131
 115
 113
 122
 92
 131


 Highland
 16
 16
 16
 16
 16
 16
 17


 Inverclyde
 13
 13
 15
 16
 20
 19
 24


 Midlothian
 7
 6
 6
 6
 4
 6
 9


 Moray
 9
 6
 6
 10
 11
 5
 9


 North Ayrshire
 12
 11
 9
 10
 15
 23
 23


 North Lanarkshire
 40
 35
 38
 41
 46
 47
 53


 Orkney Islands
 2
 2
 2
 2
 2
 3
 3


 Perth and Kinross
 20
 12
 0
 0
 21
 22
 24


 Renfrewshire
 26
 19
 17
 20
 25
 24
 24


 Scottish Borders
 9
 8
 9
 8
 8
 15
 9


 Shetland Islands
 4
 2
 4
 3
 3
 5
 4


 South Ayrshire
 8
 11
 9
 11
 13
 13
 13


 South Lanarkshire
 25
 26
 26
 25
 30
 41
 50


 Stirling
 13
 8
 8
 13
 12
 15
 15


 West Dunbartonshire
 15
 16
 16
 14
 16
 17
 16


 West Lothian
 12
 10
 11
 11
 14
 14
 14


 Total
 627
 624
 612
 642
 704
 729
 831



  These figures represent the number of qualified social workers employed rather than full-time equivalents.

MMR Vaccine

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25741 by Lewis Macdonald on 22 May 2006, what the series of questions are that a health professional must ask before administering the MMR vaccine and to whom these questions must be posed.

Lewis Macdonald: Health professionals will ask a number of questions before administering any vaccine.

  In the case of MMR the child’s parent or guardian will be asked a number of questions which will include the following:

  
Is the child well today and does he or she have any fever?
  Is the child allergic to any antibiotics such as neomycin?
  Has the child had any other vaccines over the past four weeks?
  Is the child on any medication? (to rule out any chronic immunocompromised conditions).

National Health Service

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local NHS boards are free to adopt guidance that differs from National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance which has been endorsed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify which guidance takes precedence in the event that there are differences between guidance produced by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and that of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence endorsed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

Mr Andy Kerr: We expect NHS boards to implement advice from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence if it has been endorsed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. However, decisions on treatment are a matter for clinical judgement and we expect clinicians to take account of advice and evidence from a range of sources.

Non-Domestic Rates

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider increasing the level of non-domestic rates paid by out-of-town retailers in order to encourage town centre retail development.

Mr Tom McCabe: Rateable values for non-domestic properties are set independently by the Scottish Assessors. Wider issues around local taxation are being considered as part of the independent review of local government finance which is due to report later this year. However, we have put in place a number of measures to assist retailers. In April 2006, we reduced the non-domestic rate poundage gap with England by half and we have committed to close the gap fully from April 2007. We are also legislating for Business Improvement Districts and are currently funding six pilots including a number in town and city centres.

Population

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26062 by Johann Lamont on 31 May 2006, how many pensioner households lived in (a) the DG postcode and (b) Scotland in (i) 2001-02, (ii) 2002-03, (iii) 2003-04, (iv) 2004-05 and (v) 2005-06.

George Lyon: The latest available information is from the 2001 census. The number of all-pensioner households in the DG postcode and Scotland were 17,797 and 514,692, respectively.

Public Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it plans to take to improve arrangements for regulating and scrutinising devolved public services in Scotland.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has decided to undertake a review of the current arrangements for scrutiny and regulation in Scotland, meaning the inspection, regulation, audit, and procedures for formal external investigation of complaints relating to devolved public services in Scotland. The review will recommend how to ensure that that the scrutiny regime is fit for purpose in a reformed public sector, and it will pave the way for more proportionate and streamlined regulation of public services. The review will be led by an independent Chair, Professor Lorne Crerar and will last approximately 12 months. It will produce an interim report to ministers in early 2007, followed by a final report and recommendations.

  The review will draw on complementary evidence and recommendations from work that is underway by the Scottish Parliament Finance Committee Inquiry into Accountability and Governance.

Rape

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many specialist rape units there were in each year since 1999, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally. Every Scottish police force has access to at least one rape suite. The number and location of rape suites in a force area is primarily a decision for the Chief Constable to make, taking into account operational priorities.

Renewable Energy

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has allocated to the Scottish Community and Householder Renewable Initiative (a) in each year to date and (b) for each year to 2009.

Nicol Stephen: The allocation of funding to the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) since its inception by financial year is as follows:

  

 Financial Year
Funding
(£ Million)


 2002-03
 0.20


 2003-04
 2.00


 2004-05
 3.60


 2005-06
 2.45


 2006-07
 3.70


 2007-08
 3.70



  In line with standard government practice budgets are not allocated beyond 2007-08.

Rivers

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to introduce consistency into the management of rivers bounding Scotland and England.

Rhona Brankin: Each river catchment requires differences in management to reflect local circumstances; the border rivers are no different in that respect. The legislative basis for the management of the border rivers has been consistently applied since 1865.

Roads

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available in respect of the number of car journeys made on the A725 between Strathaven and East Kilbride in each of the last five years.

Tavish Scott: The A726, which lies between Strathaven and East Kilbride, is a local road and is therefore the responsibility of South Lanarkshire Council as the local roads authority.

  Traffic information on that route is a matter for the council.

Roads

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it now expects to make an announcement in respect of the report of the local inquiry into the proposed online upgrade of the A80 and what the reasons are for any delay in this announcement and in making the report publicly available.

Tavish Scott: It is extremely important that Scottish ministers give careful consideration to the report of the public local inquiry prior to reaching their decision.

  This process is at an advanced stage and it is anticipated that a decision will be issued soon. The report of the public local inquiry will become publicly available when the parties who made representations on the proposed scheme have been informed of the decision.

Sport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S2W-16622 by Patricia Ferguson on 1 June 2005, whether it will provide an update on what funding has been provided for the development of women’s football in each year since 1999; to which organisations such funding has been paid, and through which funding bodies.

Patricia Ferguson: This information is not held centrally. I have asked the chair of  sportscotland to write to you setting out these details.

Sport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) girls’ and (b) women’s registered football clubs there have been in each year since 1999.

Patricia Ferguson: This information is not held centrally. The number of registered women’s and girls’ clubs is a matter for the Scottish Women’s Football Association.

Sport

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how sportscotland has supported and developed sport in 2005-06; which projects were recipients of such support at grassroots level, and how much each project received.

Patricia Ferguson: Sportscotland has supported and developed sport in 2005-06 in line with its corporate plan which takes forward Scottish ministers policies and priorities for sport in Scotland. Details on projects supported at grass roots level are not held centrally and I have asked the Chair of  sportscotland to provide you with the information requested.

Sport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the audit reports on local sports facilities will be published; what the lessons to be learnt from the audits are, and how the issues they identify will be addressed.

Patricia Ferguson: The National Audit of Scotland’s Sports Facilities summary report  is being published by  sportscotland today and can be accessed on  sportscotland’s website at: www.sportscotland.org.uk. Copies are also available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39798). The report highlights the significant investment required in Scotland’s existing facilities largely as a result of poor design quality and inadequate maintenance regimes. However, it also questions whether we have the right facilities in the right locations to meet the demands of changing sporting trends and demographics. It also highlights the importance of local sports facilities strategies as an essential tool in establishing what facilities will be required to meet future demand.

  We are at a key stage in the development of sport in Scotland. The report provides valuable information and poses important questions. These will be considered more fully in the context of the updated sports strategy at a summit the First Minister is convening in September.

Visually-Impaired People

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure equality between visually-impaired and sighted people by promoting free access to talking books.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive encourages local authorities to make appropriate arrangements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Local Government Act 2003. The provision of library services and subscription to RNIB’s Talking Book Service are matters for local authorities.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliament Building

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has carried out, or intends to carry out, tests to determine whether the Parliament building poses any respiratory problems to those who work in or visit it.

Kenny MacAskill: We are not currently aware of any conditions within the Scottish Parliament building which would present respiratory problems to those who occupy or visit it. The building management system controls ventilation, temperature and fresh air input, based on the automatic monitoring of internal conditions. In addition, any work activities which may release fumes or dust have strict control measures applied at source and timed to avoid affecting occupants or visitors.